Electric switch



(No Model.)

D. H. ARMSTRONG. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Patented Oct. 4, 1892.

mm E S S M H W A TTORNEYJ" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID H. ARMSTRONG, OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 483,704, dated October 4, 1892.

Application filed June 11 1892. Serial No. 436,326. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, DAVID H. ARMSTRONG, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Long Island city, Queens county, New York, have invented certain new and useful In1 provements in Switches for Electric Circuits, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved switch for electriclighting circuits whereby one switch can be used for connecting at will one or two different circuits, so that the number of switches required for lighting circuits is diminished, the switch being so arranged that the position of the same relatively to the circuits is readily indicated; and the invention consists of a switch for electric-lighting circuits which comprises a center post having a thumbpiece at its outer end, a sleeve on said post provided with a segmental cam, said post being provided with a pin for e11- gaging a recess in said sleeve a contactspring for the main circuit, forming contact with the square end of the sleeve, and two contact-springs making connections with the additional lighting-circuits and adapted to be placed in contact with the cam 011 the sleeve, so that either one or both lighting-circuits are switched into circuit with the main circuit, as will be fully described hereinafter, and finally pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of my improved switch for electric circuits. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on line 3 3, Fig. 2; and Figs. 4 and 5 are front views of the switch, showing it connected, respectively, with one and two lighting-circuits.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, A represents a base, of porcelain or other insulating material, which is screwed to the wall, ceiling, or other suitable point of support. To the base A is attached a center post B, to the outer end of which is applied a thumb-piece B. The post B can be turned by means of the thumbpiece B on its axis in either direction, it being provided with a pin b that engages a recess 1) at the end of a sleeve 0, which is applied to the post B and made of square cross-section at the end 0 next adjacent to the base A. A contact-spring D is connected with the main line by which the lighting-circuit is supplied and placed in contact with the square end C of the sleeve 0, it remaining in contact with the same into whichever position the sleeve is placed by the turning of the post 13. The sleeve 0 is provided near its outer end with a raised segmental portion or cam cl, which may be placed in contact with two contact-springs D D that are attached to the base A, and which are connected with two separate lighting-circuits. The raised segmental cam cl is made of sufficient length, so as to form 0011- tact with both contact springs D D or to in terrupt contact with one or both springs when it is placed in the intermediate position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

WVhen it is desired to switch in one lighting-circuit only, the post B and sleeve 0 are turned on its axis so that the cam d forms con tact with either one of the springs D D as shown in Fig. 4, while when bothlighting-circuits are to be switched into circuit with the main line the post B and sleeve 0 are turned until the cam cl is placed in contactwith both springs D D as shown in Fig. 5.

For cutting out one of the lighting-circuits after both are supplied with the lighting current the post and sleeve can be turned in either direction to the left or to right, the spring D forming contact in each case with one of the sides of the square end of the sleeve, so as to secure the regular supply of the current. The switch is inclosed by a cylindrical shell E, which is provided with areshaped slots 6 e concentric with the post, through which the indicating words on or off on a disk f, that is attached to the post B back of the face of the shell or casing E, are rendered visible, so that the position of the switch is readily indicated thereby, whether one or the other lighting-circuit, or both, are placed in circuit with the mainline. It appears thus that by a simple change in the ordinary switches they can be used for supplying two electric-lighting circuits with current, so that the number of switches required can be considerably diminished and the supervision of the same simplified and facilitated.

Too

area roe or out of circuit with the cam, so that either one or both lighting-circuits can be placed in circuit with the main line, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DAVID H. ARMSTRONG. Witnesses:

PAUL GOEPEL, CHARLES SoHRoEDER. 

